Melissa Etheridge's Ex-Girlfriend Files for Custody of Their Children

Tammy Lynn Michaels, Melissa Etheridge's former girlfriend and domestic partner, has filed legal documents asking for full legal and physical custody of their 3-year-old twins, Johnnie and Miller, TMZ reports.

Etheridge filed legal documents to end the relationship last week and asked for joint legal and physical custody. The pair became domestic partners in August 2005. Etheridge's rep announced the end of the nine-year relationship in April.

Michaels, who's been very vocal about being blindsided by the breakup, doesn't agree with Etheridge's request and is specifically asking for full custody. Michaels carried the twins to term after being impregnated by an anonymous sperm donor.

Both cited irreconcilable differences as the reason to end the relationship. But Michaels made a noticeable mistake in her papers, TMZ points out. She filed for dissolution of marriage rather than dissolution of domestic partnership. It's unclear how this will affect the filing.

In addition to requesting full custody, Michaels is also asking for spousal support.

Celebrity Splits

Wow Melissa seemed to be good enough to help raise the children during the last three years so why now does she want to take the kids away from their "other mommy"? Take a step back put the children first , hopefully she isn't doing this for revenge.

Melissa seems to have issues with staying with a partner for longer than 10 years. Tammy has stayed with her through thick and thin. Tammy should have custody with Melissa paying child/spousal support.

Tammy should get the kids she had them,Melissa had nothing to do with them being born.It took a man to make them, So i guess that leaves Melissa out of anything to do with them.And Tammy should not get support from Melissa.That is the lickin you get for the lickin you got.Time to get a job Tammy.

Does anyone else see this as a new reality show: "Life with Tammy and Melissa?" I see a camera filming every day in the life of their "children" as they work out joint custody in a domestic partnership breakup? Please ABC, CBS, and NBC spare us, ok? (watch it end up on FOX)

It is always the children who suffer when a partnership dissolves. If marriage between couples - no matter what sex they are -- was legalized then these types of breakups would be divorces with at least some legal precedents already set that would make this more equitable for all concerned. Regardless of who is prettier or more popular ...

It is not her "girlfriend" it is her estranged wife. They were married...U dont need a piece of paper from some government to be married. Marriage existed centuries before governments and organized religion stuck their noses in the instiutution.